Dataset Information

Prevalence and diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) in South Central China.

ABSTRACT: Cryptosporidium is one of the most prevalent zoonotic parasites and is responsible for the high burden of diarrheal disease across the globe. Rodents are globally overpopulated and are reservoirs for a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Bamboo rats are a common species of rodent that are bred for meat and wool in China. However, the genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium in bamboo rats in China is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium in bamboo rats from South Central China. From February2017to February 2018, 435 fecal samples were collected from bamboo rats in 13 farms located in 12 cities in South Central China. All fecal specimens were examined for Cryptosporidium by PCR, and through sequencing the partial small subunit of ribosomal DNA (SSU rRNA). C. parvum-positive samples were further subtyped through analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene sequence. Meanwhile, all the new Cryptosporidium genotypes samples were selected for further sequence characterization at the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) gene and oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene as well as gp60 gene. Infection rates of 2.1% (9/435) were recorded for Cryptosporidium. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of two Cryptosporidium species including C. parvum (n?=?2), C. occultus (n?=?1) and two new Cryptosporidium genotypes termed Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype I (n?=?5) and Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype II (n?=?1). Two subtypes of C. parvum were identified including IIdA15G1 and IIpA19 (one each).The discovery of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species/genotypes in bamboo rats suggests they have significant zoonotic potential and pose a threat to human health. The novel sequences discovered provide new insight into genotypic variations in Cryptosporidium in bamboo rats.

SUBMITTER: Wei Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6629606 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Prevalence and diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) in South Central China.

Wei Zilin Z Liu Qiang Q Zhao Wei W Jiang Xiumei X Zhang Ying Y Zhao Aiyun A Jing Bo B Lu Gang G Qi Meng M

International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife 20190621

Cryptosporidium is one of the most prevalent zoonotic parasites and is responsible for the high burden of diarrheal disease across the globe. Rodents are globally overpopulated and are reservoirs for a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Bamboo rats are a common species of rodent that are bred for meat and wool in China. However, the genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium in bamboo rats in China is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and genetic character ...[more]

PMID: 31341769

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Bamboo rats are widely farmed in southern China for meat, but their potential in transmitting pathogens to humans and other farm animals remains unclear. METHODS:To understand the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in these animals, 709 fecal samples were collected in this study from Chinese bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) on nine farms in Jiangxi, Guangxi and Hainan provinces, China. They were analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. using PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium parvum, C. parvum-like and C. ubiquitum-like genotypes identified were subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. RESULTS:Altogether, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 209 (29.5%) samples. The detection rate in samples from animals under two months of age (70.0%,105/150) was significantly higher than in samples from animals above 2 months (18.6%, 104/559; ?2?=?150.27, df?=?1, P?<?0.0001). Four Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified: C. parvum (n?=?78); C. occultus (n?=?1); a new genotype that is genetically related to C. ubiquitum (n?=?85); and another new genotype that is genetically related to C. parvum (n?=?44). Among them, C. parvum (27,610?±?71,911 oocysts/gram of feces) and the C. parvum-like genotype (38,679?±?82,811 oocysts/gram of feces) had higher oocyst shedding intensity than the C. ubiquitum-like genotype (2470?±?7017 oocysts/gram of feces) and the C. occultus (1012 oocysts/gram of feces). The C. parvum identified belonged to three subtypes in two rare subtype families, including IIpA9 (n?=?43), IIpA6 (n?=?6) and IIoA15G1 (n?=?9), while the C. parvum-like and C. ubiquitum-like genotypes generated very divergent gp60 sequences. CONCLUSIONS:Results of the present study suggest that bamboo rats on the study farms were infected with diverse Cryptosporidium species and divergent C. parvum subtypes, which probably had originated from their native habitats. As similar C. parvum subtypes have been recently detected in humans and farmed macaques, attentions should be paid to the potential role of these new farm animals in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens.

Dataset Information

Prevalence and diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) in South Central China.

Publications

Prevalence and diversity of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in bamboo rats (<i>Rhizomys sinensis</i>) in South Central China.

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